14 Strive For Us

Preview : Jani is still standing where she stood. She stared blankly at the door which Dana slammed. She squeezed her chest a little. It was painful inside.

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Jani woke up in the morning…

I woke up with a headache. Trying to figure out what happened last night. Glancing at the clock on the right side of the bed, I sighed in resignation. 4:45 am in the morning. I got out of bed and walked impatiently to the bathroom. But until in front of the dressing table I decided to stop for a moment. Foreign objects that used to make me wonder, finally made me confused now. My heart is pounding. Did these things belong to Reyna that Dana was referring to?

I quickly pushed those thoughts out of my head. I have to think positively. Dana is my guy now. No other girls can come in between us. And I don't want to go any further because of what happened last night. I have to soften his heart.

Somehow, I got excited again, just with that thought. Immediately wash my face and brush my teeth. I went straight to the kitchen to make breakfast. I decided to make egg sandwiches. After everything was ready, I rushed to take a shower and get dressed. I swear my face looks like a zombie and I only realized when I looked in the mirror. Swollen eyes, hmm. "You can't cry anymore from now on, Dana only belongs to you. As long as you fight for Dana desperately, Dana will always stay with you," I tried to motivate myself. Yes, I want to fight for Dana.

***

Jani ventured to knock on Dana's door. "Dana? You There?" called Jani.

Because until the third call and knock on the door and Dana still didn't answer, Jani ventured into the man's room, which unlocked. Jani turned the doorknob as quietly as she could for fear of waking Dana. Jani closed the door to Dana's room again in slow motion. Then she turned around to look carefully at every corner of Dana's room. When her gaze fell on the frame that hung in front of Dana's bed, Jani was startled by the fact that Dana had just come out of the bathroom with only a towel underneath.

"What are you doing in my room?!" Dana didn't like it.

"I… I… just wanted to wake you up because it was 06.15 in the morning," Jani replied, stuttering a little.

"For this time I forgive you, but not next time when you boldly enter my room!" Dana said sharply without looking at Jani.

"Sorry I'm presumptuous, but you never forbid me to enter your room," Jani defended herself. She didn't want to be accused of anything.

"Is this the real you? Have no respect for my privacy?" Dana was getting emotional. He even looked at Jani with a different look than usual.

Jani recalls that she is fighting for their relationship. She relented. Maybe Dana wasn't feeling well.

"Sorry again, I'm sorry," Jani was like a maid who had been caught presumptuously entering her master's room.

Pathetic. After apologizing and bowing, Jani rushed out of the room. She went back into the kitchen to make Dana coffee. She didn't want to think too much about what had happened. She was too in love with Dana.

Dana left the room, well-dressed. Jani stared at Dana without blinking. He immediately got up from his chair.

"I've made coffee and sandwiches for you," Jani said with a genuine smile.

"I won't get any breakfast this morning," Dana said curtly. Without even looking at Jani.

"But I've made breakfast, you usually have breakfast first. It's only half past 7 in the morning, you know, later you can get an ulcer," joked Jani, trying to match Dana's steps, who almost reached the apartment's exit.

Dana stopped and glared at Jani. "Why are you so fussy? If you want to eat then just eat, don't make me sick of your childish attitude. I don't have time to listen to all your ramblings!" having said that Dana hurried off.

Jani jumped in surprise when Dana came out slamming the door. Jani is still standing where she stood. She stared blankly at the door which Dana slammed. She squeezed her chest a little. It was painful inside.

She walked over to the dining table. She tried to encourage herself to come back. She kept thinking positively. Dana was just mad at her, Jani thought it would get better later. In the end, she chose to take the sandwiches to work and drink 2 cups of coffee, which was actually for her and Dana. It's better than it thrown away as a waste, she thought.

Jani sat in her cubicle languidly.

"What's wrong Jan? Your eye sockets are swollen like that, are you crying?" Rena babbled non-stop.

"I'm okay, I just fell asleep last night watching a movie," Jani replied nonchalantly.

"What are you carrying?" Rena took Jani's lunch bag.

"You can eat it! I brought sandwiches, you can share with Amran," said Jani, turning on her computer.

It's 12 pm. Jani tries to text Dana. But not sent. Jani only drank the boxed milk that Amran had given to her. But it feels so full. Was it because she was thinking too much about Dana or because of a really unreasonable job for today. Jani has to work overtime until 9 pm. Actually forced because of the deadline that must be submitted to the boss tomorrow morning.

"You still here, Jan?" said Mr. Arga with his trademark deep voice.

"This is just getting ready to go home, sir, just finished," replied Jani politely.

"Any companion?" he asked again.

"Take an online taxi, sir, are you just going home?" she said.

Indeed, at first, Pak Arga looked unpleasant for Jani personally, of course. But he turned out to be beyond expectations, kind, fun, and clearly patient.

"I also just finished, Ummm… how about if I drive you home? It's safer than being alone at night waiting for an online taxi," he offered.

"Uh, no need, sir, I'm used to being alone," said Jani gently.

"It's okay then, just be careful," he smiled and then left the office.

Jani walked to the office lobby. She occasionally checks her phone but still no progress. Dana did not answer the messages that Jani sent several times. Even just asking whether he had lunch or not, what is he doing, and asking what time he is going to home.

How she could get an answer, Jani's message only shows one tickmark, until the night when Jani comes home. Jani has even tried calling Dana several times but it's always being diverted. Jani sighed in resignation. She rushed into the online taxi she ordered.

"Are you alright? Stomachache?" asked the taxi driver.

"Yes sir, it looks like my ulcer has relapsed," Jani replied, holding her stomach and grimacing trying to hold back the pain. Jani remembers she hasn't eaten anything all day. God, why did she suddenly become such a fool.

"Sir, please stop by the drug store, for a moment, I'll add the cost later, sir," said Jani. So silly, Jani forgot to bring on her ulcer medicine which she usually carries everywhere.

"Why don't you just go straight to the hospital? Ma'am, you are really pale, you know," said the taxi driver.

"I can handle this, it's alright, sir," replied Jani with a smile.

Arriving at Dana's apartment, She immediately turned on the lights in every corner of the room. She silently watched. "It's like overtime funds," she thought. She continued to take her ulcer medicine then went into her room to clean herself. She was still enduring the excruciating pain. In her heart, she prayed that the taxi driver's fortune would be added. The driver didn't want to add the fare even though Jani usually added the fare if she wanted to stop by some places.

She had just finished drying her hair and was about to head out of the room to make something to eat, but as she was about to stand up from her dressing table, she felt the pain in her stomach come back. This time it hurt more, her stomach hurt, making it difficult for Jani to move. She tried to walk limping while still holding her stomach. Her body went limp. It seems that the medicine she bought is not effective because it only relieves the pain for a while. She curled up on the bed whimpering. Her face was pale. Cold sweat kept coming out.

"Dana, please! It hurts!" Jani spoke these words as if Dana was nearby and would help her.

Jani kept muttering incoherently. She tried to contact Dana but it was still inactive. Finally, she contacted Rena. Jani didn't know that Dana had turned off his phone on purpose. What Jani thinks until now is that Dana is working overtime without having time to hold his phone even if it's just to let her know.